ISLAMABAD: The case of a man who, according to National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) records died in 2001 but continues to hold three posts in the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap), has reached the Islamabad High Court.

PML-N MNA Chaudhry Iftikhar Nazir has also written to the Establishment Division and NAB, suggesting that they look into the matter.

Last month, Samiullah Khan Durrani, the owner of a pharmaceutical company, stated in a complaint that Sheikh Akhtar Hussain was involved in embezzlement, along with four other people, and was the subject of two NAB references filed in 2001 and 2004.

Copies of the complaint were sent the Supreme Court and all important offices. It also alleged that while the other four suspects received punishments, Hussain managed to have himself declared dead, after which the cases against him were closed.

According to the reference filed in 2004, signed by then bureau chairman retired Lt Gen Munir Hafeez, Hussain was accused of embezzling Rs51 million. In the 2001 reference, signed by chairman retired Lt Gen Khalid Maqbool, Hussain was accused of embezzling Rs1m.

Hussain was declared dead in both references, and according to practice cases cannot continue against the deceased.

According to the writ, available with Dawn, the court was asked to take notice of the issue, due to which the court has sought a report from NAB, the Federal Investigation Agency, the Establishment Division, the Cabinet Division, the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) and Drap.

Supreme Court advocate Khawaja Mohammad Farooq, who filed the writ, told Dawn a single IHC bench consisting of Justice Athar Minallah has sought a report from all the departments by Nov 13.

“The suspect managed to declare himself dead, due to which cases against him were closed On the other hand, he has been working on a BPS-20 post. We expect that NAB will hold an inquiry, due to which everything will be cleared,” he said.

Earlier last month, the Cabinet Division sought a report from the NHS ministry, which in turn sought a report from Drap.

A grade 17 Drap official has sent a letter, available with Dawn, claiming that all the allegations against the suspect are incorrect. Drap Assistant Director Hamza Malik has said that it was not correct that Hussain is working in place of any deceased person.

The letter claimed that the suspect was never associated in any NAB reference, and the references mentioned were set aside by the Sindh High Court in 2007. However, Advocate Khawaja said that while the companies involved in corruption made plea bargains, the case against Hussain has yet to be quashed.

The letter also alleged that baseless allegations were levelled against Hussain after a campaign was launched against spurious drugs.

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2017